Water distributing device for humidifiers



1968 w. H. PETERS WATER DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR HUMIDIFIERS Filed Dec. 30, 1965 m a 3 1 z 3 a.

A r roe/vim Unied States Patent 3,416,564 WATER DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR HUMIDIFIERS William H. Peters, Bryan, Ohio, assignor to The Rooto Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Filed Dec. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 517,607 8 Claims. (Cl. 137-525) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tubular water distributing member having side walls flexible from a collapsed to a separated condition with outlet openings in the side walls for normal water flow therethrough, and flow resistance means operative in response to increasing pressure to permit flow from the normally closed discharge end of the tubular member.

This invention relates to an improved device for distributing water to the evaporator section of a humidifier.

One type of humidifier with which the improved water distributing device of the invention may be used is connected to the air distributing duct work of a hot air heating system to operate in conjunction therewith. Some portion of the air is passed through an evaporator section in the humidifier normally equipped with some form of evaporator pad to which water is supplied through a distributing device. A common form of distributing device consists simply in a trough positioned above the evaporator pad and provided with a number of outlet holes in the trough bottom.

Operation of a humidifier of this type is intermittent. When operation ceases, the water supply to the evaporator pad is cut off and any moisture remaining in the distributing device evaporates leaving a mineral deposit which gradually builds up over a period of time. Portions of the deposited minerals then break away and clog the outlets in the distributing device. Operation of the humidifier becomes progressively less eflicient and an undesirable oveiflow of water from the distributing device can occur before the malfunctioning is detected.

The object of the present invention is to provide a water distributing device in which the formation of mineral deposits is minimized and which is self-cleaning of any mlneral deposit that may be formed.

The water distributing device of the invention includes a tubular member having an inlet end and side walls flexible from a collapsed to an extended condition in response to water entering the inlet end under pressure, a discharge end, at least one outlet opening provided in the side walls, and fluid flow resistance means between the outlet opening and discharge end to normally confine fluid flow from the inlet end through the outlet opening.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of the representative embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional side elevation of a typical humidifier construction; FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view taken substantially as indicated by the line 22 of FIG. 1 showing the distributor device of the invention mounted in the humidifier and in normal operating condition;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional views of the distributing member taken as indicated by the line 33 of FIG. 2, FIG. 3 showing the member with its side walls in collapsed position and FIG. 4 with its side walls in extended position; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view taken as indicated by the line 55 of FIG. 4 showing an alternate construction for the outlet openings of the distributing device.

Patented Dec. 17, 1968 Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the typical humidifier 10 illustrated includes an evaporator section 12 in which an evaporator pad 13 is mounted in the path of air flowing through the humidifier from an inlet opening 14 in the end wall to an outlet opening 16 in one of the side walls 17 and 18, the air flow being indicated by the direction of the arrows 19. A pan 20 is mounted on the lower portion of the unit and water is maintained in this pan at a level of the line 21 by a suitable float valve 22 and connections to a water source (not shown). When the humidifier is in operation, a pump 24 driven by a motor 25 supplies water through the line 26 to the distributing device 28 of the invention which is mounted above the evaporator pad 13 as shown in FIG. 2.

The distributing device 28 consists of a flexible tubular member of preferably synthetic material having an inlet end 30 connected to the end 31 of the pipe 26. Preferably the member 28 is formed as a flat tubular strip in its collapsed or static state, with an oppositely facing pair of side walls 32 and 3-4 which abut each other. The length of the tubular member 28 is such that it preferably extends over the top of the evaporator pad 13 and down the side 36 thereof to place the other end 38 of the tubular member 28 adjacent the lower wall 40 of the plenum chamber of the humidifier, thereby forming a bend 41 in the tubular member where it changes direction from the horizontal to the vertical.

At the bend 41 the tubular member is supported by a bracket 42 mounted on the side wall 18 of the humidifier 10 and the contacting surfaces 34 and 43 of the member 28 and bracket 42 respectively are secured together (for example, by cementing) to anchor the member 28 in place and for another purpose to be described. Some means such as a bracket 44, or cementing of the walls 32 and 18 of the member 28 and humidifier is also used to secure the other end 38 of the member in desired position relative to the humidifier structure.

A suitable number of outlet openings 46 are formed in the side wall 34 between the inlet end 30 and bend 41, which openings may be of any desired configuration, or in the form of slits 48 as shown in FIG. 5.

The end 3 8 of the tubular member 28 opposite the inlet end 30 thereof may be sealed or otherwise restricted to confine fluid flow from the inlet end through the outlet openings. However, in the preferred construction the end 38 is a discharge end with fluid flow resistance means being provided between the last downstream outlet opening 46 and the-discharge end 38 to normally confine fluid flow from the inlet end through the outlet openings 46. The fluid flow resistance or relief valve means in the construction illustrated is provided by the bend 41 which increases the resistance of the walls 32 and 34 to separation. Securing the one wall 34 to the surface 43 of the bracket 42 permits the walls 32 and 34 to separate the bend 41 under increased fluid pressure and prevents straightening of the member 28 at the bend 41 from internal pressure. Other forms of relief valve may be used particularly if conditions do not permit the employment of this simple self-contained bend.

The flexibility of the tubular member 28 is such that under the normal pressure from the pump 24, the walls 32 and 34 of the member 28 will flex from the collapsed to the extended position shown in full line in FIGS. 2 and 4 in response to water entering the inlet end 30 under pump pressure. When operation of the pump stops, the walls 32 and 34 will return to a collapsed abutting relation in which the outlet openings 46 are sealed by the oppositely facing side wall 32.

Another means for sealing the outlet openings when the tubular member 28 is in collapsed or static condition comprises the slit opening 48 (FIG. 5) which is selfsealing, and which may be employed with or in lieu of the abutting relation between side walls 32 and 34 in their static condition. Action of the sealing means is augmented by the siphoning effect of water in the pipe 26 trying to flowbaok to the level in the tray 20.

Operation of a humidifier is normally intermittent. Each time the pump motor shuts off, the self-sealing action of the flexible tube 28 described above tends to prevent any air from entering the tube and causing evaporation of water therein with the consequent formation of mineral deposits. Each time the pump motor 25 turns on, water entering the inlet end of the tube under pressure from the pump causes the side walls 32 and 34 of the tubular member to extend and even pulsate as indicated in FIG. 4, and this action, Or change in configuration of the side walls will break up any mineral deposits that may have formed thereon and flush these deposits through the outlet openings 46. If in spite of this self-cleaning, self-flushing action of the tubular member, mineral deposits should build up and clog the outlet openings 46, the increased pressure caused by this restriction of the outlet openings will eventually cause the side walls 32 and 34 of the tubular member to separate at the bend 41 flushing the tubular member out the discharge end 38 thereof which is preferably extended to the lower wall 40 of the plenum chamber of the humidifier adjacent the return opening '50 to the water tray 20 so that there will be no overflow.

It will thus be seen that in the preferred construction of the Water distributing device illustrated, the flexible tubular member 28 is self-sealing in action, self-flushing in action and incorporates a self-contained relief valve in the form of the bend 41 for further flushing action and overflow preventionin the event a clogging condition should occur.

While preferred embodiments have been described above in detail, it will be understood that numerous modifications might be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A water distributing device for a humidifier having an evaporator'section, including a tubular member having an inlet end, a discharge end and side walls flexible in response to water entering the inlet end under pressure from a collapsed to an extended condition; at least one outlet opening provided in a side wall; and fluid flow resistance means between the outlet opening and discharge end normally confining fluid flow from the inlet end to the outlet opening and operative in response to increasing fluid pressure to permit fluid flow from the discharge end of the tubular member.

2. A water distributing device as claimed in claim I further including means for sealing the outlet opening when the side walls of the tubular member are m collapsed condition.

3. A water distributing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tubular member is formed with a pair of oppositely facing side walls which abut each other when in collapsed condition.

4. A water distributing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the outlet opening is formed in one of the pair of oppositely facing side walls whereby the other side wall of the pair acts to seal the outlet opening when in collapsed condition.

5. A water distributing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outlet opening comprises a slit which opens in response to water under pressure in the tubular member.

6. A water distributing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid flow resistance means is provided by a bend in the tubular member to position oppositely facing side walls thereof in normally abutting relation.

7. A water distributing device as claimed in claim 6 further including means supporting the tubular member at the bend therein, and means securing one side wall of the tubular member to the supporting means whereby the side walls of the tubular member are free to separate from normally abutting relation under pressure in the tubular member and permit fluid flow from the discharge end.

8. A fluid distributing device comprising a tubular member having an inlet end, a discharge end and side walls flexible from a static to a dynamic condition in response to fluid entering the inlet end under pressure, at least one outlet opening provided in a side Wall, and fluid flow resistance means normally confining fluid flow from the inlet end through the outlet opening and operative in response to increasing fluid pressure to permit fluid flow from the discharge end of the tubular member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,705 ,662 4/ 1955 Leonard 239-450 2,723,678 10/1955 Wilson l37-525- 3,080,124 3/1963 Rat'hmann 239450 3,176,773 4/1965 Headriok 239-450 FOREIGN PATENTS 741,526 12/1955 England.

903,304 8/1962 England.

890,033 2/1962 England.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

W. H. WRIGHT, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

